Norwegian Islamic Council Asks Muslim Brotherhood Theological Council For Ruling On Homosexuality

A Norwegian newspaper has reported that asked the Muslim Brotherhood affiliated European Council for Fatwa (ECFR) for help in deciding whether Muslims in Europe should support or reject the death sentence for homosexuals, a position which has not been clarified by the Islamic Council of Norway (ICN). According to the newspaper, the question became highlighted after paper reported in November that Muslim homosexuals are being sent back to their home countries:

Non-profit organizations fear for the lives of homosexual immigrants who are being forcibly sent back to their parent’s homeland. Forced marriage and “reorienting” through koran lessons are methods used on young homosexuals who parents and family want to “cure” them from their homosexual leanings. In several Muslim countries, like Iran, there’s a death sentence on homosexuality.The head of the Islamic Council of Norway, Senaid Kobilica told Dagsavisen that they have now entered a process where they discuss problems related to homosexuality. The most important reference point for them is the European Council for Fatwa and they are asking the council to help them clarify these difficult questions. …”Skeiv Verden”, a group for homosexual and lesbian youth of immigrant background, reported that they got many shocked inquiries after the Islamic Council of Norway refused to reject the death sentence for homosexuals. The organization is now initiating an appeal to be handed to the Islamic council, the government and Norwegian political parties.

The article identifies Senaid Koblica as the President of the ICN and an Egyptian newspaper further refers to him as both the Imam of the Islamic Community of Bosnia Herzegovina in Norway and Assistant to the Grand Mufti of Bosnia Herzegovina, Dr. Mustafa Ceric. Dr. Ceric, in turn, is a prominent member of the ECFR which is headed by global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi who has called for harsh penalties for homosexuals, not ruling out the death penalty. For his part, Koblica appeared happy to pass the issue to the ECFR. When asked about his personal position, he replied:

As Muslims in Norway we have always respected Norwegian law, and will continue. We are obligated, according to Islam, to respect the law of the countries where we live, and that we do fully, says Kobilica who hopes the European Council will help Muslims in Europe have a uniform position on homosexuality. He says it’s obvious that Muslims in Norway agree on their opinion in this question. Some might like it, others not, but they must sooner or later express themselves on this issue. This will happen after an internal discussion among Muslims in Norway and after the Islamic Council of Norway consults Islamic authorities in Europe. Kobilica says that while these processes are going on, he asks for understanding and respect on the fact that he can’t express himself, neither on his personal standpoint nor on the Islamic Council of Norway’ standpoint towards homosexuality related questions.

The ECFR is not known to have played an especially large role in the life of European Muslims and the majority of its members do not reside in Europe. The ruling they are being asked to make puts them in something of a quandary- whether to contradict the opinions of Qaradawi or risk a major public relations setback for the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe. The most likely outcome is a politically expedient decision which will allow both a harsh condemnation of homosexuality while acknowledging the reality of European law and customs, a tightrope which the ECFR has walked before. It is, however, the most potentially explosive issue faced by the ECFR to date.